Sailboat fitting



Sept. 17, 1963 1 HoRNBosTr-:L ETAL 3,103,908

SAILBOAT FITTING Filed April 24, 1962 IN VEN TOR. yd/afvziaslfe #esta United States Patent O 3,103,908 SAILBOAT FIT'HNG Lloyd Hornbostel, 1638 Emerson St., and John H. Franz, 1415 Chapin St., both of Beloit, Wis. Filed Apr. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 189,799 8 Claims.' (Cl. 114-111) This invention relates to sailboat fittings and more particularly to a sailboat fitting which affords ready movement of a jib sheet or the like relative `to a stay line, or the like.

In maneuvering sailing craft, it is `advantageous at frequent intervals, especially during reaches or downwind runs, to pass a line such as a jib sheet from a position inside the stay line or shroud to a position outside the stay line or shroud thereby giving more effective use of the jib sail. After completion of the broad reach or downwind run it then becomes necessary to return the line such as the jib sheet to the prior position, that is, 'from inside the stay line or shroud whereby the jib sail is efficiently used on beam reaches, close reaches or Windward maneuvers. For reasons of speed and safety, it is necessary that this be done smartly, that is, quickly and effectively.

A number of Idevices have been proposed or constructed for this purpose, but none of these devices has achieved the Idesired result. Thus, such previous devices have been either clumsy and difficult to operate, or have been flimsy and dangerously unreliable in practice.

The present invention makes it possible to pass a line or sheet, such as the jib sheet, outside the stay line or shroud and return in a speedy safe and effective manner and with entire certainty in operation. In accordance with the invention, an elongate ring is formed of steel wire or other material which is sufficiently strong to withstand and take the entire working load on the sheet. In operation, this ring connects upper and lower portions of the sheet, by means of eye-splices on the adjacent sheet portion ends which are slidably mounted on the ring. Thus, the inside radii of the ring are sized to -accommodate the eye-splices Vand the eyes themselves are covered with material such as to minimize chang, also serve to guard against corrosion in the eye-splices.

As used herein the term stay line will include shrouds In one of the elongate sides of the ring, and preferably centered in this side, a gap is provided which is of a size large enough -only to -pass the mast stay 4into and out of the ring, but not `sufficiently large to permit the eye-splices in the sheet to be removed. Thereby, when it is necessary to move the jiby sheet or other sheet in relation to a 'stay line, the sheet may be moved up against the stay line and the stay Iline may be passed into the elongate ring connecting the sheet portions, through-the gap in the ring. Thereupon, the ring is rotated 180 so that the gap is facing in the opposite direction to its initial position. The sheet and ring are then moved away from the stay line by passing the stay line out of the gap once again. This process may be repeated in the reverse direction for a return movement of the jib sheet or other line.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sailboat fitting as described which permits passing of `a line such as the jib sheet from inside the stay line and return, in a manner which is both speedy and safe, and entirely effective and reliable.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described which interconnects sheet portions in a manner which is very secure, but which `affords relative rotation of the ring for movement of the sheet from stood by those skilled in the art.

3,103,908 Patented Sept. 17, 1963 one side to another of a stay line or other such line with great facility.

Yet another object of ythe invention is to provide a sailboat fitting which is simple, rugged and adapted for use over long periods of time without substantial wear or corrosion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent as the description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a sailboat and of a sailboat fitting according to the present invention in operative relation on a jib sheet therefor;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of 4a mast, and stay lines which may be passed into and out of the sailboat fitting or ring of the invention in moving the jib sheet from one side to another of the staylines;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view, partly broken away, of an end portion of a jib sheet in connected relation with the sailboat fitting ring of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the sailboat fitting in operative position and connecting upper andlower sheet portions on one side o-f a stay line;

FIGURE 5 is a corresponding view showing the sailboat fitting on the opposite side of the stay line after rotation of the fitting; and y FIGURE 6 is a reduced diagrammatic representation of the sailboat fitting in an intermediate rotational position.

Referring now to the drawings, a sailboat fitting 10 is shown according to the present invention which includes an elongate ring 11 `and eye-splices 12 and 13 connect-v ing front and rear portions 14 and 1S of a jib sheet or line 16. A second jib sheet or line 16a may be utilized, if desired, within the scope of the invention which includes a sailboat fitting 10a, having an elongate ring 11a and eye-splices 12a and 13a .connecting front and rear portions 14a and V15a of the jib sheet or line. Thus the sheet 16a may provide ready control of the jib sail 17 from the opposite side of the boat Without requiring the passing of a line around the mast.

Although jib sheets 16 and 16a are shown in the presently illustrated embodiment of the invention, other sheets and lines may also be provided with a iitting-according to the invention, and different arrangements of such lines may be utilized, 4as understood by those skilled in the art. Also, only one jib sheet or line may be provided if desired. sheets 16 and 16a have the front ends 13` 4and 13a thereof connected .to a jib sail 17 securedto the deck of a sailboat 18 and to a mast 19 on the boat, as also under- The rnast 19 is supported by stay lines 20, 21 and 22 connected to an upper end of the mast and to the deck, again as understood by those skilled in the art. In maneuvering the sailboat 18, it is necessary at frequent intervals to pass the line or jib sheet 16 from one hand to the other, as for instance, in yta-cking or coming about in theexample shown. It is fur-ther necessary that this be done smartly i.e., quickly and effectively, Iand Without difficulty.

To this end, the fittings, such as 10, have the elongate rings thereof formed of lsteel wire or other material strong enough to take the entire Working load on the sheets, e.g. sheet 16. Again referring to the fitting l10 as exemplary of the invention, the inside radii of the ring 11 are sized so as to accommodate the eye-splices- 12 and 13, or other connecting-means for the -upper and lower line portions 14 and 15.

The elongate sides of the ring 11 are designated by reference numerals 23 and 24 respectively, and in one of the elongate sides, such as the side 24, la gap 25 is provided which may have rounded or chamfered inner and outer edges yas shown `and is preferably disposed cen- In the example shown, the jiby 3 trally of the length or reach 24 of the ring. The gap is of a size large enough to pass the mast stays therethrough, e.g. the lefthand stay 21 in the example shown, but is small enough to prevent movement therethrough of the eye-splices 12 and 13.

In a typical example, the eye-splices will have a crosssectional diameter approximately twice as great as the diameter of the stay lines. The stays or guide lines used in the type of craft shown in the drawings generally have a diameter of/l@ of an inch, more or less. The sheet, on the other hand, is usually a rope or cable having a diameter of not less than 1/2 inch.

The eye-splices may be of a conventional type with the eye portions thereof preferably covered with a material which is effective to minimize chang, such as hard vulcanized rubber. Such material also serves to guard against corrosion and, will of course, provide a diameter for the eye-splices somewhat greater than the diameter of the sheet.

The eye-splices 12 and 13 may be connected to the adjacent end of the sheet portions '14 and 15 in any conventional manner as understood by those skilled in the art, and the sheet portions I14 and 15, eye-splices 12 and 13 and the ring 11 together form an entirely reliable and strong sheet construction.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, in operation, and when it is desired to move the sheet 16 from one hand to another, the sheet is brought -into proximate relation `with the stay line, such as the stay line 21, with the gap' 25 in the ring 11 on the side of the ring adjacent the stay line. The gap is brought into register with the stay line, whether manually or by oper-ation of the sheet in the usual manner and the stay line passed into the interior portion of the ring. Once the stay line is inside the ring, the ring is manually rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise through the eye-splice openings 26 until the reach or side 24 of the ring forming the `gap 25 is in a position opposite from its initial position in approaching the stay line. Thereafter, the sheet 16 is moved away from the stay line 21 or the ring 11 is itself moved relative to the stay line to pass the stay line out of the `gap 25 so that the sheet is free of the stay line, and the movement to the other hand is completed.

Although we have described the fitting of the invention with respect to a jib sheet, or other sheet on a sailboat, it will be appreciated that it has a broad range of applications in situations lwhere a device which must maintain its structural integrity against tension stresses and the like must be passed across a line or other elongate element which would otherwise block its direct movement therepast.

Although we have herein set forth and described our invention with respect to certain specic principles and details thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these may be -varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a sailboat having a mast and stay line therefor, a sail, and a sheet connected to the sail for controlling the sail, a ring defining a `gap sized to receive the stay line, said sheet being separated intermediate its ends, and loop means on each of the separated portions of the sheet slidably receiving the ring, said loop means and gap having a relative dimension such as to prevent removal of the loop means from the ring whereby the ring is effective to receive the stay line whenv moved thereagainst with the gap is register therewith and to release the stay line upon rotation of the ring through the loop means so that the sheet is disposed on an opposite side of the stay line from its initial position.

2. In -a structure including an elongate, relatively fixed member and an elongate, relatively movable member, means for moving the relatively movable member past the relatively xed member across an intersecting path comprising a ring having a gap sized to releasably receive the relatively iixed member into said ring, said relatively movable member having a pair of separated portions, and means on each of said separated portions slidably receiving said ring, said means on each of said separated portions being sized to prevent passage thereof through said gap.

3. A -line structure adapted for use with elongate members to be passed in intersecting relation comprising a line having a pair of separated portions, an eye-splice on an end of each of said separated portions, a ring rotatably received in said eye-splices :and a gap defined by said ring dimensioned to receive therethrough an elongate member to be by-passed by the line, said eye-splices having a cross-sectional dimension such as to prevent their removal from the ring through the gap and said ring being rotatable to permit an elongate member to enter the ring through said gap when said gap is on one side of the eye-splices and permit the elongate member to leave the ring through said gap when the gap is on the other side of said eye-splices.

4. In a sailboat having a mast secured by a stay line and a sail supported by the mast and having one end free relative to the mast, =a bipartite sheet having one portion with one end connected to the sail and the other end formed with an eye-splice, and the other portion with one end free for manual engagement and the other end with an eye-splice, an elongate ring having inner radii sized to accommodate the eye-splices `and rotatably received in the eye-splices and a gap defined by the ring centrally in one elongated side thereof dimensioned to prevent inadvertent release of the eye-splices from the ring and to permit entry and exit of the stay `line relative tothe ring, whereby the sheet may be moved to pass the ring into surrounding relation with the stay line with the stay line passing through the gap, and the ring may be rotated with the stay line therein to position the gap on the opposite side of the stay line from the initial position thereof so that the sheet may be moved away from the stay line by passing the stay line through the gap.

5. In a sailboat having a mast secured by stay lines and a jib sail supported by the mast and having one end free relative to the mast, a pair of bipartite sheets each having one portion with one end connected to the sail and the other end formed with an eye-splice, and the other portion with one end free for manual engagement and the other end with an eye-splice, an elongate ring having inner radii sized to accommodate the eye-splices and rotatably received in the eye-splices and a gap dened by the ring centrally in one elongated side thereof dimensioned -to prevent inadvertent release of the eyesplices from the ring and to permit entry and exit of a stay line relative to the ring, whereby the sheet may be moved Vto pass the ring into surrounding relation with the stay line ywith the stay line passing through the gap, and the ring may be rotated with the stay line therein to position the gap on the opposite side of the stay line from the initial position thereof so that the sheet may be moved away `from the stay line by passing the stay line through the gap.

6. A sailboat fitting adapted to be connected slidably between separated portions of a sail sheet or the like with each of the portions having an eye splice and adapted to receive a stay line, the tting comprising a ring formed of a relatively rigid material of good tensile strength, said ring having a gap through one side thereof dimensioned to closely receive the stay line therethrough and to prevent -removal of the eye splces so that the ringis effective to receive the stay line when moved thereagainst with the gap in register therewith and to release the stay line upon rotation of the ring through the eye splices without releasing the eye splices Iand so that the sheet is disposed on an opposite side of the stay line from its initial position. t

7. A sailboat fitting adapted to be connected between separated portions of la sheet for a sail or the like with each of the portions having an eye splice and adapted to receive a stay line, the itting comprising an elongated ring having inner end radii dimensioned toaccommodate said eye splices 'and having :a gap formed centrally in one side thereof intermediate said inner ends dimensioned to closely receive the stay line therethrough and to prevent removal :of the eye splices within the ring so that the ring is effective to receive the stay line when moved thereagainst with the gap in register therewith and to release the stay line without releasing the eye splices upon rotation of the ring `so that the sail sheet is disposed on an opposite side of the stay 4line from its initial position.

8. A sailboat fitting adapted to ybe connected between separated portions of a sail sheet or the like with `each of the portions having an eye splice and Iadapted to receive a stay line, the fitting comprising a ring formed of a relatively rigid material of good tensile strength substantially circular in cross-section and of uniform diameter throughout, said ring being elongated and having inner end radii dimensioned to accommodate the eye splices and having a gap formed substantially centrally on one side thereof -d-irnensioned to closely receive the stay line therethrough so that the ring is eiective to receive the stay line when moved thereagainst with the gap in register therewith and to release the stay line upon rotation of the ring through the eye splices so that the sheet is disposed on an opposite side of the stay line from its initial position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 121,225 Lamb NOV. 21, 1871 1,613,890 Herreshoff Ian. 111, 1927 2,834,301 Morris May 13, 1958 

1. IN A SAILBOAT HAVING A MAST AND STAY LINE THEREFOR, A SAIL, AND A SHEET CONNECTED TO THE SAIL FOR CONTROLLING THE SAIL, A RING DEFINING A GAP SIZED TO RECEIVE THE STAY LINE, SAID SHEET BEING SEPARATED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, AND LOOP MEANS ON EACH OF THE SEPARATED PORTIONS OF THE SHEET SLIDABLY RECEIVING THE RING, SAID LOOP MEANS AND GAP HAVING A RELATIVE DIMENSION SUCH AS TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF THE LOOP MEANS FROM THE RING WHEREBY THE RING IS EFFECTIVE TO RECEIVE THE STAY LINE WHEN MOVED THEREAGAINST WITH THE GAP IS REGISTER THEREWITH AND TO RELEASE THE STAY LINE UPON ROTATION OF THE RING THROUGH THE LOOP MEANS SO THAT THE SHEET IS DISPOSED ON AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STAY LINE FROM ITS INITIAL POSITION. 